Key Takeaways
- The article frames the NFL Draft as a made-for-TV spectacle full of drama, manufactured moments, and recurring storylines—from surprise player slides and over-the-top hugs with Roger Goodell to flashy suits, awkward war-room celebrations, and vocal fan reactions.
- This year’s draft, held in Pittsburgh, is light on quarterback prospects aside from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza but is rich in defensive talent, several playmaking wide receivers, and elite running back prospect Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
- The piece introduces the Complex Bets 2026 NFL Mock Draft, setting up a first-round projection where Mendoza is considered a lock at No. 1 overall while the rest of the opening round is portrayed as wide open and highly debatable.
The Draft equals drama. Roger Goodell and his band of marketing geniuses, or pariahs (depending on your appetite for ruthless capitalism) have made the NFL Draft a must-see traveling soap opera that, this year, will originate from Pittsburgh.
Every year, the NFL Draft leaves us with a memorable, albeit sometimes manufactured, moment. Which player will slide in the draft and make for uncomfortable TV? Which player will hug Goodell the hardest? Which player will rock the gaudiest suit? Which team’s war room will have the most awkward high-fives? Which family member will steal the show? Which fanbase will boo their selection? Which former NFL player will take a verbal jab at the host city? We’re about to find out answers to all of those questions and more.
Though light on quarterback prospects (aside from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza), this year’s draft is not short of potential impact players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But there are also a handful of playmaking wide receivers and the best running back prospect in years, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. This is the Complex Bets 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Team needs: QB, DT, OL, DB
The late Al Davis lived for throwing so-called NFL Draft experts a curveball. If Davis were still alive, he would no doubt draft ultra-athletic Arkansas QB Taylen Green in this spot. Instead, Tom Brady and the new era Raiders will go the boring route and take Mendoza, who has been pegged for the No. 1 overall selection since January.
New York Jets - David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Team needs: Edge, QB, WR
Give the Jets credit: It appears they’re trying to construct a roster the “right way,” which is through the trenches on the offensive and defensive line. No need for splashy Aaron Rodgers-like trades or free agency signings, and no need to reach for a big name WR or RB this high in the first round. Most every mock has Jets GM Darren Mougey taking Bailey or Ohio State LB/Edge Arvell Reese in this spot.
Arizona Cardinals - Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Team needs: QB, OT, Edge
New coach Mike LaFleur, who made his bones on the offensive side of the ball, may be tempted to trade out of this spot or take the best available offensive weapon in RB Jeremiyah Love. But LaFleur is smart enough to know that this Cardinals franchise is not a quick fix. Getting a sure-fire stud like Reese on the defensive side of the ball is the prudent move.
Tennessee Titans - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Team needs: RB, OL, WR, Edge
The importance of a solid-to-elite running back is back in style in the NFL. The Eagles rode Saquon Barkley to the Super Bowl in 2024-25, and Kenneth Walker III is the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Love is a do-it-all RB that can serve as a safety blanket for Cam Ward in the passing game.
New York Giants - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Team needs: OL, LB, S, WR
The best John Harbaugh teams were always strong up the middle defensively. During Harbaugh’s lengthy reign in Baltimore, the Ravens drafted a linebacker in the first round three times (CJ Mosley, Patrick Queen, Odafe Oweh) and a safety three times (Matt Elam, Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks). They’ll likely tab the ultra-athletic Styles here.
Cleveland Browns - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Team needs: OL, TE, WR, QB
Tate seems destined for Cleveland. Not only did he play college ball right down the road in Columbus, but his main player comp is consistently George Pickens. Pickens played at Georgia in college, where new Browns head coach Todd Monken was the offensive coordinator.
Washington Commanders - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Team needs: Edge, WR, LB, CB
Washington finished dead last in the NFL last season in yards allowed, coughing up a whopping 384.0 yards per game. Dan Quinn has surely been fuming for months at that stat. Washington has gone offense the last two years in the first round (Jayden Daniels, Josh Conerly Jr.), so signs point toward Quinn nabbing the top defensive player still on the board in this spot.
New Orleans Saints - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
Team needs: WR, Edge, CB, LB
The Saints have picked offensive lineman in the first round of the past two drafts, so now it’s time to stock up on the other side of the ball. Bain is exactly what you want out of a cornerstone edge rusher as he is equally dominant defending the run as he is the pass.
Kansas City Chiefs - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Team needs: CB, OT, Edge, WR
The Chiefs are typically picking in the 20s or early 30s, so when looking at young receivers they’re usually looking at second options. Patrick Mahomes can no longer carry this team on his back and needs a gamebreaker at WR. Tyson is an elite pass-catcher in traffic and certainly qualifies as such a weapon. He could certainly emerge as an All-Pro NFL WR one day.
New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Team needs: OL, LB, S, WR
As mentioned at No. 5, Harbaugh loves to build teams up the middle on defense. What better way to do so than to pair Sonny Styles (LB) with his Ohio State teammate, Caleb Downs? The Buckeyes had the No. 1 defense in all of college football this past season, thanks in large part to Styles and Downs.
Miami Dolphins - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Team needs: WR, OL, CB, TE
The cupboard is bare at receiver in Miami with Tyreek Hill a free agent, and Jaylen Waddle now in Denver. Miami signed QB Malik Willis to a three-year deal, so they owe it to him to get him a weapon at receiver. An exceptional route runner, Lemon is the top slot receiver in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
Team needs: LB, CB, Edge
This looks to be a prime spot for Jerry to trade out of, but if the 83-year-old Cowboys boss stays put, look for him to target the best defensive player available. Faulk is a tremendous prospect, having earned All-SEC honors this past season. He is 6-foot-6 and extremely versatile.
LA Rams - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Team needs: OT, CB, WR
Using draft real estate on an offensive tackle is always in style. The Rams need another big body to protect old man Stafford, and Mauigoa just might be the man to do it. The U product did not allow a single sack in 118 College Football Playoff pass block snaps this past winter.
Baltimore Ravens - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Team needs: OL, Edge, TE, WR
Fanatics Sportsbook has offensive lineman as the most likely position for the Ravens to select from in the first round at +130. Baltimore needs to protect Lamar Jackson better than they did last season, as the QB now has eight grueling NFL seasons under his belt and is starting to show his age. Proctor is a 6-foot-7, 366-pound beast out of Alabama.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Team needs: Edge, TE, CB, LB
The Bucs aren’t too many years removed from true contender status, but they desperately need to find a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball with Mike Evans now in San Francisco. Athletic Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq certainly fits the bill, as he set a record for tight ends by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
New York Jets - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Team needs: Edge, QB, WR
The Jets could very well select QB Ty Simpson here to avoid the risk of another team swiping him in the latter half of the first round. But New York should be able to have its cake and eat it, too and target a QB early in the second round. They could look to add a receiver in this spot to give the offense a 1B option behind Garrett Wilson. Cooper is an extremely physical receiver, who excels at breaking tackles, and has a winning pedigree having played for Curt Cignetti at Indiana this past season.
Detroit Lions - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Team needs: Edge, OL, DB
Freeling is an absolute monster at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. The knock on him though is that he only had 18 career starts at Georgia, and the Bulldogs feature a run-heavy offense. But, Freeling’s potential is undeniable and standout Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley would likely be able to mold him into a top-notch tackle rather quickly.
Minnesota Vikings - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Team needs: OL, DB, WR
Thieneman has consistently been mocked to the Vikings by all the major outlets, and Fanatics Sportsbook has safety as the most likely position (+160) that the Vikes will draft from in the first round. The elite Oregon safety is a ball-hawk, who had eight career interceptions with the Ducks.
Carolina Panthers - Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
Team needs: Edge, OL, DB, WR
Fanatics has wide receiver (+250) and offensive lineman (+275) as the two positions that the Panthers will most likely draft from in the first round. The best available player on the board here would be Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano, who started at left tackle for the Utes as a true freshman.
Dallas Cowboys - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Team needs: LB, CB, Edge
After taking Auburn edge rusher Keldrick Faulk at No. 12, we now have the Cowboys selecting cornerback Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee. McCoy’s talent is undeniable, but there are real injury concerns. Though regarded as a top 10 talent, he missed the entire 2025 college season with a torn ACL.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Team needs: QB, WR, OL
Last week, the Fanatics Sportsbook odds for Over. 1.5 quarterbacks taken in Round 1 was even money. Today, Over 1.5 QBs taken in Round 1 is -200. That’s great news for Simpson, who has been considered a fringe first-rounder throughout the draft process. Even if Aaron Rodgers returns, the Steelers need to have a longterm option at the most important position in sports.
LA Chargers - Zion Young, DE, Missouri
Team needs: Edge, TE, CB, WR
Young has tremendous power and length (33-inch arms). He was also a team captain at Missouri, and would fit in well with Jim Harbaugh’s no-nonsense approach. The Chargers defense was a top 10 unit by the end of the season last year, but Harbaugh is never shy about doubling down on a strength.
Philadelphia Eagles - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Team needs: Edge, WR, OT
Howie Roseman has long understood the importance of line play, and it is time that the Eagles re-stock in this area as Lane Johnson could soon retire. Miller is as athletic as they come for an offensive lineman. He checks in at 6-foot-6, 317 pounds, and he has 54 college starts to his name.
Cleveland Browns - Max Iheanachor, OL, Arizona State
Team needs: OL, TE, WR, QB
We had the Browns go skill position earlier in this mock, taking WR Carnell Tate. Now, we have the Browns opting to fortify their offensive line. Iheanachor is the biggest risk vs. reward O-lineman in the Draft as he is extremely raw, having not played the sport of football until 2021. But his size and quickness has scouts absolutely drooling.
Chicago Bears - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Team needs: Edge, S, OT, WR
Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles seem to prefer to take the best player available in the Draft, rather than shoehorn in a player based on need. In this case, Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is best available and fills a need. With Kevin Byard now in New England, and Jaquan Briskerin Pittsburgh, McNeil-Warren appears to be a perfect fit in Chicago.
Buffalo Bills - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Team needs: CB, Edge, OL, WR
New Bills head coach Joe Brady knows Josh Allen’s talent better than anyone. In his first draft as head man in Orchard Park, one would think he would want to get Allen an elite weapon. Concepcion jumps off the page athletically, as he is a YAC master.
San Francisco 49ers - Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Team needs: OL, S, TE
49ers fans won’t be telling their grandchildren about this pick one day if they draft Ioane, but sometimes you just have to go with the sure thing. The Penn State guard will be able to slide into the 49ers line on Day 1.
Houston Texans - Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Team needs: OL, DT, CB
Houston’s defense was among the best in the NFL last season. The Texans are all set on the edge, but could use some help on the interior. Enter Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller. Miller has elite play recognition and is tremendous at shutting down the run. He would fit nicely into Houston’s scheme.
Kansas City Chiefs - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Team needs: CB, OT, Edge, WR
The Chiefs traded away All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the LA Rams in exchange for draft capital, which included this pick. It would make sense for the Chiefs to recoup a cornerback here, and Hood profiles as the best CB available. Hood started all 12 games for the Vols last season, wrapping up with 50 tackles, a pick-6, and a forced fumble. He earned All-SEC honors.
Miami Dolphins - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Team needs: WR, OL, CB, TE
New Dolphins boss Jeff Hafley spent many years as a defensive backs coach, and cornerback is a glaring area of need for the rebuilding Dolphins. Johnson is one of the biggest risers on draft boards after he had a tremendous Combine showing. He posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds and had a 38-inch vertical.
New England Patriots - Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
Team needs: OL, Edge, WR
In the wake of the Dianna Russini scandal, will Mike Vrabel show his face, or spend the entire off-season in solitary confinement? When Vrabel does come out from his bunker, he should do a great job coaching up Mesidor.
Seattle Seahawks - Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Team needs: Edge, DB, RB
Notre Dame was blessed to have had two elite running backs last season in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Love will obviously be long gone by the time the Super Bowl champs pick here, but Price will almost certainly be available. Price averaged 6.0 yards per carry in his collegiate career and found the end zone 11 times last season.
